Andy Whitfield
Encyclopedia
Andy Whitfield was a Welsh
actor and model. He was best known for his leading role in the Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand
during 2010, a year before his death at the age of 39.
, Wales
. He studied engineering at the University of Sheffield
, England and worked in Lidcombe, New South Wales
, Australia as an engineer before settling in Sydney in 1999. He attended Screenwise
Film & TV School for Actors, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He appeared in several Australian television series, such as Opening Up, All Saints
, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters
and McLeod's Daughters
.
Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel
. He also starred in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand
, which was filmed in New Zealand. He portrays a version of the historical Spartacus
, although in this retelling he is a conscripted soldier condemned to death who defeats all four of his executioners and is thereby recycled as a gladiator
. The actual Spartacus, like this fictional version, was destined to lead a rebellion against the Romans
(the Third Servile War
). Whitfield also appeared in the Australian thriller The Clinic starring opposite Tabrett Bethell
(of Legend of the Seeker
fame) which was shot in Deniliquin.
In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with Freddie Wong
and created a 2 minute long YouTube video named "Time Crisis", based on the game Time Crisis
. Whitfield made a brief, uncredited voice-only appearance in the prequel mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
, which premiered on 21 January 2011.
and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand. This delayed production of season two of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, the network produced a six-part prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, with only a brief uncredited voiceover from the actor. Although declared cancer-free only two months later, he suffered a recurrence of the disease later in the year and was ultimately compelled to abandon the role. Starz recast 29-year-old Australian actor Liam McIntyre
as Whitfield's successor.
Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, on 11 September 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
actor and model. He was best known for his leading role in the Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
during 2010, a year before his death at the age of 39.
Career
Whitfield was born in AmlwchAmlwch
Amlwch is the most northerly town in Wales. It is situated on the north coast of the Isle of Anglesey, on the A5025 which connects it to Holyhead and to Menai Bridge. The town has no beach, but it has impressive coastal cliffs. Tourism is an important element of the local economy. At one time it...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He studied engineering at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, England and worked in Lidcombe, New South Wales
Lidcombe, New South Wales
Lidcombe is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Lidcombe is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
, Australia as an engineer before settling in Sydney in 1999. He attended Screenwise
Screenwise
Screenwise is an Australian film and television school for actors based in Surry Hills, Sydney. The school, established in 2000 and using only Australian Film Institute Award winners as teachers, is overseen by actor Denise Roberts...
Film & TV School for Actors, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He appeared in several Australian television series, such as Opening Up, All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
and McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm...
.
Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel
Gabriel (film)
Gabriel is a 2007 Australian supernatural action-horror film set in purgatory. It follows the archangel Gabriel's fight to rid purgatory of the evil Fallen and save the souls of its inhabitants. Gabriel is the first feature directed by Shane Abbess, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Hylton...
. He also starred in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
, which was filmed in New Zealand. He portrays a version of the historical Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
, although in this retelling he is a conscripted soldier condemned to death who defeats all four of his executioners and is thereby recycled as a gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
. The actual Spartacus, like this fictional version, was destined to lead a rebellion against the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
(the Third Servile War
Third Servile War
The Third Servile War , also called the Gladiator War and the War of Spartacus by Plutarch, was the last of a series of unrelated and unsuccessful slave rebellions against the Roman Republic, known collectively as the Roman Servile Wars...
). Whitfield also appeared in the Australian thriller The Clinic starring opposite Tabrett Bethell
Tabrett Bethell
Tabrett Bethell is an Australian film, television and theater actress, best known for portraying the character Cara in the television series Legend of the Seeker...
(of Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...
fame) which was shot in Deniliquin.
In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with Freddie Wong
Freddie Wong
Freddie Wong is an American filmmaker, musician, VFX expert and e-Sports player. He maintains two popular YouTube channels, freddiew and freddiew2. He is the older brother of fellow YouTuber Jimmy Wong.- Biography :...
and created a 2 minute long YouTube video named "Time Crisis", based on the game Time Crisis
Time Crisis
Time Crisis is a light gun shooter arcade game produced by Namco in 1995 and released in early 1996. It was later ported for the PlayStation in 1997, bundled with the G-Con 45 controller.-Gameplay:...
. Whitfield made a brief, uncredited voice-only appearance in the prequel mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus...
, which premiered on 21 January 2011.
Illness and death
In March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphomaNon-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand. This delayed production of season two of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, the network produced a six-part prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, with only a brief uncredited voiceover from the actor. Although declared cancer-free only two months later, he suffered a recurrence of the disease later in the year and was ultimately compelled to abandon the role. Starz recast 29-year-old Australian actor Liam McIntyre
Liam McIntyre
Liam McIntyre is an Australian actor most known for his work in several short films and guest starring roles in Australian TV series...
as Whitfield's successor.
Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, on 11 September 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis.
Filmography
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | All Saints All Saints (TV series) All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009... |
Matthew Parkes | "Opening Up" (season 2, episode 7) |
| 2008 | The Strip | Charlie Palmer | (season 1, episode 2) (season 1, episode 7) |
| Packed to the Rafters Packed to the Rafters Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and... |
Nick Leigh | "All in the Planning" (season 1, episode 10) | |
| McLeod's Daughters McLeod's Daughters McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm... |
Brett Samuels | "Nowhere to Hide" (season 8, episode 4) | |
| 2010 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S... |
Spartacus | Lead Role |
| 2011 | Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus... |
Spartacus (voice / uncredited) | "The Bitter End" (season 1, episode 6) |
| Film | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Gabriel Gabriel (film) Gabriel is a 2007 Australian supernatural action-horror film set in purgatory. It follows the archangel Gabriel's fight to rid purgatory of the evil Fallen and save the souls of its inhabitants. Gabriel is the first feature directed by Shane Abbess, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Hylton... |
Gabriel | Lead Role |
| 2010 | The Clinic The Clinic (2010 film) The Clinic is a 2010 thriller film written and directed by James Rabbitts and was shot in Deniliquin, NSW, Australia. It is loosely inspired by true stories of infant abduction... |
Cameron Marshall | |